Bangkok: DSI holds urgent meeting to bring The Icon case into special case, stressing that this case has suspects under control, must be processed quickly.
According to Thai News Agency, after the Central Investigation Bureau handed over the case file of The Icon, which has tens of thousands of victims and damages worth billions of baht, to the DSI for consideration of accepting it as a special case, Pol. Lt. Col. Yuthana Phraedam, acting director-general of the Department of Special Investigation, ordered the case screening committee to urgently hold a meeting. The agenda was to clarify whether the case will be on the attached list, whether the director-general can accept it immediately, or whether it must be submitted to the special case committee. This meeting was chaired by Pol. Lt. Wisanu Chimtrakul, deputy director-general of the DSI, who invited police officers handling The Icon case to clarify the case file, with Pol. Maj. Gen. Montree Tessakan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, in attenda
nce.
Pol. Lt. Col. Woranan Srilam, Director of the Informal Financial Business Division, commented before the meeting that after the police gradually handed over the case files of The Icon to the DSI, a team had been set up for initial inspection. Given the urgency and public interest in the case, representatives from the police were invited to explain which legal channels would facilitate its acceptance as a special case. If deemed a special case, there would be a process to inspect, record the case files, and plan with the police, incorporating details that the police had already processed. The DSI and police share investigative authority, but transferring the power to continue the investigation is crucial given that suspects are already under control. The large number of cases across the country necessitates expedited consideration for special case status. The DSI already collaborates with the police on The Icon case, with a shift in host due to DSI laws offering more integration channels than the standar
d Criminal Procedure Code. The DSI has already accepted the money laundering aspect as a special case to facilitate asset recovery for victims. The outcome of the case screening meeting will be revealed post-discussion.
The meeting commenced at 9:30 a.m., focusing on evaluating evidence and facts processed by the police. The Informal Financial Business Division provided insights into the law and the attached list, empowering the Director-General to potentially accept it as a special case immediately. Should the criteria not be met, a summary will be submitted to the Special Case Board, chaired by Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the DSI, seeking a board resolution for special case acceptance.
Source: Thai News Agency